25: Royal Hunting Grounds? No, it's Gu's Barbecue Stall!

Western Suburbs of the Capital, Imperial Hunting Grounds.

This place is scenic, rich in Spiritual Qi, and was a hunting ground built by the Royal Family at immense cost.

It housed Rare Birds and Exotic Beasts collected from all over Great Xia, and even overseas; every single one was priceless.

Normally, it was heavily guarded, so much so that not even a fly could enter.

"Stop! This is a Royal Forbidden Ground! Trespassers will be killed!"

Two Imperial Guard Captains wearing golden armor, holding long spears, blocked the entrance to the Hunting Grounds.

They looked at the strong man carrying a huge black iron pillar in front of them. Though terrified, their duty compelled them to stop him.

Gu Yang stopped, glanced at the golden plaque inscribed with "Royal Forbidden Ground," and then smelled the faint scent of roasted meat drifting out from inside.

"I am the newly appointed Marquis who Guards the Nation, Gu Yang."

"Your Majesty rewarded me with ten thousand taels of gold. I figured I had nowhere to spend it, and hearing there were good things to eat here, I specifically came to 'taste-test' for Your Majesty."

Gu Yang spoke nonsense with a straight face.

"Taste-test?"

The two Captains exchanged bewildered glances.

They had only ever heard of Eunuchs testing for poison, never of a Marquis who Guards the Nation bringing such a massive pillar to taste-test food!

"Marquis, without a decree from Your Majesty, even if..."

"So verbose."

Gu Yang grew slightly impatient.

The Greedy Worm in his stomach was protesting.

He completely ignored the two long spears and strode forward.

"Stopping me? You can try."

Buzz—

A terrifying Gravitational Field erupted instantly.

Before the two Captains could even thrust their spears, their legs went weak, and they plopped onto the ground, their knees shattering the bluestone slabs.

They could only watch helplessly as that massive figure swaggered into the Forbidden Ground.

As soon as he entered the Hunting Grounds, Gu Yang was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar.

"Good heavens! This is too lavish!"

He looked at a flock of large red chickens, their bodies burning with flames, pecking at Spiritual Plants on the grass ahead.

[Exotic Beast Detected: Flame Luan Bird (Thin Phoenix Bloodline). The meat is delicious and highly nourishing!]

"Isn't this just a Turkey? Roast it!"

Gu Yang casually picked up a stone and flicked it out.

Snap!

A Flame Luan Bird that was about to take off was hit in the head and died instantly.

Moving further ahead.

In a clear stream, several fish, snow-white and emitting Cold Qi, were swimming.

[Exotic Beast Detected: Ice Spiritual Fish. Few bones, crispy texture!]

"Isn't this just Salmon? Slice it up for sashimi!"

Gu Yang reached out and scooped up several fish.

"Is that... a White Jade Elephant?"

Gu Yang fixed his gaze on a small elephant drinking water by the lake.

Its entire body was white as jade, its tusks were crystal clear, and it exuded an aura of peace.

"Elephant Trunk seems quite tasty."

Half an hour later.

In a clearing deep within the Hunting Grounds, a huge bonfire was lit.

Gu Yang placed the 13,500 jin coiling dragon pillar horizontally across two boulders, using it as a barbecue rack.

Skewered on top were two enormous Flame Luan Birds, an elephant leg, and half a rack of Thunder Ox Ribs.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Golden oil dripped into the fire, releasing an enticing aroma.

Gu Yang held a huge brush (ripped from a tree) and was applying the Secret Sauce he bought in the city onto the meat.

"Fragrant! Truly fragrant!"

Gu Yang tore off a Luan Bird leg, roasted until crispy outside and tender inside, and took large bites.

[Ingested high-grade Exotic Beast flesh and blood... Energy +15... +20...]

This efficiency was much faster than struggling to kill monsters outside!

Just as Gu Yang was eating until his mouth was dripping with oil.

A clamor of hoofbeats and angry shouts came from afar.

"Bastard! Who set a fire in the Hunting Grounds?!"

"What is that smell? Why is it so fragrant... Wait! That's my auspicious White Jade Elephant!"

A group of lavishly dressed young men and women, riding Magnificent Exotic Beasts, charged over.

Leading them was a young man wearing a Python Robe, handsome but with a face full of ferocity—the Third Prince.

He was also a Martial Dao Genius, a Half-step Grandmaster at a young age, and deeply favored by the Emperor.

Today, he had specifically brought several Children of Influential Nobles to the Hunting Grounds to admire his Beloved Pet, but upon arrival, all he saw was a pile of bones.

The Third Prince's eyes turned red as he stared at the strong man gnawing on the elephant leg.

That was the White Jade Elephant he had paid a fortune to import from the Western Regions! An Auspice used to suppress Luck!

It was actually roasted by someone?!

"Audacious madman! How dare you kill my auspicious creature!"

The Third Prince was enraged, drawing the Precious Sword from his waist and pointing it at Gu Yang. "Guards! Seize him! Tear him into ten thousand pieces!"

"Yes!"

The dozen Imperial Bodyguards behind him instantly rushed out, every one of them a master above the Bone Forging Realm.

Gu Yang didn't even lift his head, still concentrating on the elephant leg in his hand.

"Too noisy."

"Don't shout while eating; it's bad manners."

Whoosh—

He held the elephant leg in his left hand and casually waved his right.

A terrifying surge of Powerful Wind materialized out of thin air, like swatting a fly.

The dozen charging Imperial Bodyguards were knocked flying by this blast of wind before they even got ten meters near Gu Yang, ending up stuck in the branches of distant trees, their fates unknown.

"What?!"

The Third Prince and the Children of Influential Nobles behind him were startled.

He is too fierce!

"So he's a Tough Opponent! No wonder he dared to trespass into the Hunting Grounds!"

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in the Third Prince's eyes. "But before This Prince, even a Dragon must coil!"

His True Qi erupted across his body, and the Precious Sword in his hand turned into a streak of light, executing the Royal Family's Ultimate Technique, the True Dragon Sword Art, thrusting straight toward Gu Yang's back.

This single sword strike possessed the might of a Grandmaster!

Gu Yang sighed, reluctantly putting down the elephant leg.

He turned around and looked at the incoming sword strike.

"Auspicious creature? The flavor was a bit bland. I should have added more Chili."

Having spoken, he raised his greasy, large hand.

Ultimate Divine Ability—Covering the Sky with a Single Hand (Gravity Suppression)!

SLAP!!!

A crisp, loud sound of a slap echoed throughout the entire Hunting Grounds.

Before the Third Prince could complete his stunning sword strike, his entire body spun seven or eight times like a top.

Several blood-stained teeth flew out.

Then, his eyes rolled back, and he fell with a thud beside the bonfire, half his face instantly swelling up like a Pig's Head.

The entire scene fell into dead silence.

The Children of Influential Nobles were so terrified they collapsed onto the ground; some even wet themselves.

He... he hit the Third Prince?!

This was the Emperor's most favored son!

This was a Monumental Disaster!

Gu Yang wiped the grease from his hands and glanced at the Third Prince lying on the ground.

"His skin is quite thick; the feel was decent."

He picked up the unfinished meat, packed it up and slung it over his back, and while he was at it, led away the Third Prince's mount, which possessed the Dragon Horse Bloodline.

"The taste was good. Next time, remember to raise fatter ones."

"I'm leaving."

Gu Yang rode the Dragon Horse, carrying the coiling dragon pillar, and swaggered away under the terrified gazes of the onlookers.

Leaving behind only chaos on the ground and a Shocking Storm about to ignite in the Capital.